The fitness community can pretty adequately be summarized by these three things: protein powder, yoga, and fruit water.

Today I’m here to talk about protein, which always seems to be at the center of every blog post ever (I know, I know, I’m #basic now that I’ve broken down and am blogging about protein and protein powders but I’m only answering your questions ok???)

1. Know how much protein you need per day to reach your goals.

Protein helps with weight loss because it boosts your metabolic rate and decreases your appetite (source.) The common recommendation for those trying to get lean is around 1 gram of protein per pound, although it does really depend on how active your lifestyle is and your goals.

I really hate the nitty-gritty details of protein calculations, so if you need more info on this, I would recommend this website.

2. Protein powder and shakes aren’t necessarily the answer.

The main issue with protein powders, bars, and shakes is that these things can contain high levels of sugar and artificial ingredients. Supplements might make sense if you’re struggling to reach your daily protein goals as-is, but make sure you do your research. Pick protein that is plant-based, and doesn’t have soy as too much soy can increase your estrogen levels too high.

As a rule, I try and stay away from supplements except for daily multivitamins, but I’m giving Vega protein powder a try to see how it affects my workout schedule and the results of my training, and I’ll let you know how it goes!

Make whole, healthy foods your first stop, and only use protein powders for things like post-workout recovery drinks. Protein powders don’t have all the nutrients that whole foods have, so I would warn against using them as meal replacements too often.

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There you have it! What’s your favorite source of protein? Let me know in the comments!